Bridge jewelry design is facing increasing competition from overseas
designers and from mass merchant retailers. These market forces make
it very difficult for fresh designers to gain a foothold in the
United States market. However, the contribution of these designers in
creativity, workmanship and service is critical to the health of the
jewelry industry as a whole. Halstead Bead, Inc. has a material and
philanthropic interest in supporting the dreams of new designers and
fostering their development in the industry.

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From what I understand (after looking it up on the Web), Bridge
jewelry is somewhere between costume jewelry and fine jewelry. The
line is a bit fuzzy, however. I know how to look on Wikipedia (and
tools of that nature) but can someone give more input on exactly what
constitutes Bridge jewelry?

Also, does someone have to produce 100’s of replicas of a design to
be considered a “line”? When i think of a jewelry"line", I think of
huge amounts a jewelry being produced by a team of people under the
direction of the “designer”. Is this correct? Is there a certain
level of production that must be met in order to be considered a
line?

does someone have to produce 100's of replicas of a design to be
considered a "line"? When i think of a jewelry"line", I think of
huge amounts a jewelry being produced by a team of people under the
direction of the "designer".

I consider myself to have a jewelry line and I don’t produce 100’s
of each design or huge amounts of jewelry. I think a successful line
could do that, but I don’t think that’s how it’s defined. I know
designers with “lines” that do produce huge amounts and others that
do only limited editions. I think a line is something that would
need to be made in production, even limited production.

I’m not saying I don’t want to produce huge amounts! I would love to
get to the point where the demand is such that I do have to produce
lots and lots… I do have help. I have someone who does my casting
and finishing of the silver pieces, and I have two crazy beaders who
help with wire-wrapping and knotting when I get too busy. (But my
beading is very basic, not at all like yours) All of these people
are outsourced, nobody works from my studio but me right now. I would
like that to change, hopefully soon.

Essentially what happens is I make the first piece- the "prototype"
this is my sample for tradeshows and then I take orders off these
and reproduce where necessary, per order. All pieces are made to
order. If all of a sudden my business took off, which I hope it will,
I could hire someone to come in and help me assemble all the
components. With minimal training they could probably be up and
running on their own without me in no time flat.

But my designs vary from yours, in that I do all my designing when
I’m wax carving and then the initial assembly. My design is in the
pendant, link, clasp… Could you even have someone come in and make
your designs with you? Would you want to teach someone how to do
that? It seems like it’s your own special thing and teaching someone
else how to do your fancy beading would be teaching them to copy
exactly what you do. If I taught someone how to wire-wrap, knot,
assemble, etc… I wouldn’t be teaching them how to carve my pieces,
which is the focal point of my “line”. I’m working on a website, I
wish I had something up and running right now to give you a point of
reference.

I can’t speak about “bridge” jewelry because I’ve heard everything
from costume jewelry to the “bridge” between costume and fine, which
I think is what I do. But I don’t know the definition for sure.

Sorry to be so wordy, had caffeine for the first time this am in
about 2 weeks, and boy am I wired!